The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-08-24

i
Members of the Society, that 1 congratu-
late you this evening on your connection
with Erskine College, presided over, as II Is.
by Il gentleman who illustrates In his life and
character the beauty of the noble motto
which is inscribed over the entrance 10 the
college building: "&ienttn cum 'nortbus con.
jHnct0.'
the great concourse Of humanity. with its d.
verse interests, its hostile opinions, its
conflicting designs, Its irreconciable diff
ferences, they will In all probability new
man who has entered upon life without
them is like ship Mt sea. rudderless
and without chart or compass, the sport
and playthLn$ Of every passing wave or or
Idle wind. 1t Is therefore, Mr.. President ana
Members o: the Society. that congratulate
you ON the formative period OF your life being
cast I'm this pleasant community OF Due
West where everything Is favorable to the
Christian morality, not to say high sense
Never, perhaps, in the history of our coun.
try was there greater necessity for men OIL
unfiinching integrity of character and un-
compromising adherence to right and JUS
tire Than in the period we are Just entering
upon. Questions are arising so vital In their
Importance and so far-reaching In their con-
sequences az to involve nothing short OF the
stability of our government and the order
and well-being Of society. Giant monopolies
and mighty corporations have sprung up
over the land and in their power are con.
interests of n few; heresies utterly snbversive
of law and order are being sown broadcast
over the land, and are finding q too ready
Judgement in the discomfort and unrest OF
old world, Strangers to our Institutions and
totally unfit to exercise the privileges or the
American freeman. are received lntO the
body polite and Invested with the full rights
Of a nIti
bers far beyond the capacity Of the State to
digest and apprOpriate-these and other mat
tcrS arc giving rise To questions the solution
of which will demand the highest faculties
and no5lcst qualities of American manhood
And, young gentlemen, when you go iorth
from these walls, from this college, and from
this community, and enter the arena wherein
these questions are TO be discussed and set:
tied, trust 1t will bc as men fully armed and
panOplied In those principles of morality
which have been the strength and beauty oi
the ages and which will endure forever be:
cause established by the Being who is eternal
and who is the author of justice and right
Ladies' and gentlemen, the Euphcmian so
clety, at the end of each collegiate year. sim
giles out certain of It's members ard, reward
ing them for labor well done, commends
item TO the special consideration Of the pub
lie. This It does by distributing, on these an.
nversary occasions prizes which represen,
the highest excellence attained during the
year in the discharge Of certain duties In the
medals, are four In number, and are given
among tho students of the Junior Glass, for
excellence In essay writing; among the. stu
dents OF the Sophomore Class for excellence
in debate; among the students OF the Fresh:
man Class for excellence in declamation; and
among the students of the Preparatory De-
partment for excellence In every thing (gener
nj eXcellence(
My special duty this evening Is to deliver
these medals. They have been awarded by n
committee which the Society specially SELECT
ed for the purpose in the early part OF the
year.
[The report of this committee showed the
following award Of the medals: The one for
general excellence In the Preparatory Depart
ment to Mr.. w. w. sadler, Of Anderson, s; G.
the one for defamation in the Freshman Class
to Mr.. ]. NJ. White, OF Hickory Grove, s. G.,
honorable mention being made In this con
nection Of Mr.. r. D. Maffett. Of Silver, Street
s. c.; the one for debating in the Sophomore
Class to Mr.. D, P. Miller, of Camden, Ala
Bradley, OF Troy. S. c.; the one for essay.
writing In the Junior Class to Mr.. Oliver
Johnson, of Due West, S, G, honorable men ,n
Tenn, and MI. J. r. Edwards, OF Due West,
S. &.
Mr.. johnson spoke apt words to each Of the
young gentlemen as he delivered the medals
to them. The words spoken TO Mr.. oliver
johnson were as follows:l
oliver, I cannot help recalling at this time
the memory Of our dead father. AS you
know, the purpose for which he labored be-
yond every other purpose was the welfare ol
his children. He desi: ed his sons to become
useful men and his daughters honorable wo'
men: and he regarded that the advantages ol
a liberal education, with correct moral pripcl
pies, would be worth more to them than any
legacy OF gold or silver which he could be-
oueath. IL was with this end In view that he
came to Due West. In carrying out his pur'
pose, he was called upon TO make many sacri
tlces; but every sacrifice, so made. however
great, he esteemed but pleasure; and have
never seen him more happy than when he
thought he saw an indication that MS LABOR
In behalf of child would not be In vain.
He Is not here to. night to find pleasure In
the distinction which has just been awarded
to you "a distinction which trust Is but the
earnest and foretaste OF still greater ones thal
shall come later in life y but she, who was the
partner of his bosom, the one that stood
bravely beside him in his struggles. that par
took Of his joys and shared In his sorrows. rs
here, and with her deeply sympathize in the
pleasure which know she has had In the eX-
ercises of this hour.
hope you will never forget the purpose for
which your father earnestly labored, nor the
end for which your mother fervently prays
but that doing with yonr might whatsoever
your hunds find to do and reaching ont con.
stantly to that which Is pure and good, you
will eventually stand forth In the nobility OF
American manhood-an honor TO the com mu
nifty In which you were reared, and demon
stration that the parents who labored Tor you
did not labor In vain.
Young gentlemen who have received dis.
tionS this evening, need scarcely remlnc
you that 10 retain any advantage which you
may have achieved over your fellows, con.
slant stan work and untiring perseverance are ne
cessary. can not put this more aptly than
by quoting to you from the great bard whose
writings have recently been made the sub
jcct of special study within the walls OF the
College:
"Time hath q wallet at his back,
Wherein he puts aims for Oblivion,
4 grcat-Sized monster Of ingratitudes;
Those scraps are good deeds past; which are
devoured
AS fast rs they are made, forgot as soon
As done; perseverance
Keeps honor bright: to have done, is to hang
Quite out OF fashion like rusty mail
In monumental mockery. Take the instant
For honor travels In strait so narrow,
Where one but goes abreast; keep then the
For emulation hath a thousand sons,
That one by one pursue; II you give way,
Or hedge aside from the direct fortnight,
Like to an enterd tide, they all rush by,
And leave you hindmost -
Lie there for pavement for the abiect rear,
O'errun and trampled on then what they dc
Though less than yours in past, must o'crtor
For time is like fashionable host,
That slightly shakos his parting guest By
hand;
And with his arms outstretch'd, as he would
fly,
Grasps-in the conner: r =
0, let not virtue seek
Remuneration for the thing 1t was;
For beauty, wit.
High birth, vigour Of bone, desert In service
Love, friendship, charity, ure subjects oil
To enviOus and calumni iatlng Time.
One touch of nature makes the whole world
kim
That ali. with one consent. praise newborn
gawdS,
Though they are made and moulded Of thing:
past;
And give to dust, that Is Il little gilt,